Studies in the UK have shown what most dog owners already know: owning a dog can be good for your health.

The study showed that owning a dog improved mental as well as physical well-being. Dog ownership was shown to prevent many people from getting ill and improved recovery time when they did fall ill. Owning a dog was also linked to early detection of certain illnesses, such as cancer, seizures, and hypoglycemia.

Any dog owner will tell you of the happiness their dog has brought into their lives, but owning a dog often does more than people may think. Dogs are often used in rehabilitation centers because of their therapeutic value; they have the ability to raise spirits and induce happiness. They also provide companionship that helps get the sick through painful treatments.

Though owning a dog is clearly linked to an increase in physical activity, which has an obvious positive effect on your health, the UK studies now link dog ownership to a decrease in minor health problems, such as the occurrence of headaches, dizzy spells, and colds and can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

With all the positive effects that dogs have on their owners’ lives, owning a dog becomes a matter of increasing our own happiness and well-being.